In recent years, the ancient symbiosis between humans and their pets has entered a new phase, marked by the burgeoning clinical specialty of humananimal therapy. This approach uses the relationship between humans and their (mainly) mammalian pets to support the growth of emotion regulation, social skills, and mental health in children, youths, and adults.

But how are humans and animals able to develop close bonds at all? What makes it possible for animals to have a therapeutic effect on humans? And how can we best use this understanding in animal-assisted therapy?

In this unique book, a team of expert biologists and psychologists integrate and combine sophisticated biological and psychological knowledge to answer these questions. Together they have created a comprehensive, scientific foundation for human-animal therapy, a foundation that will facilitate the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective new interventions.

From the contents• The mysterious relationship between humans and animals• Why humans are willing and able to relate to animals: the evolutionary biology perspective• Effects of human-animal interaction on health, social interaction, mood, autonomous nervous system, and hormones• Physiology of relationships: the integrative function of oxytocin• Interpersonal human relationships: attachment and caregiving• Connecting attachment and caregiving with their physiological basis• Human-animal relationships: attachment and caregiving• Bringing the strands together: physiology of attachment and caregiving in human-animal relationships• Practical implications for therapy